to ...gain a basic understanding of
solids, liquids and gases. The teaching
notes suggest a range of practical
activities designed to engage students
in hands-on learning experiences
through scientific experiments that
develop understanding of the use and
conservation of materials. Through the
teaching strategies, students can be
exposed to a wide range of resources
that stimulate the development of
knowledge and creative and problem
solving skills. Suggested independent
and group activities inspire design,
construction and experimentation
by tapping into websites, non-fiction
books, picture books, novels and
recycled materials. The ideas in these
resources could enhance knowledge
and understanding of Science content
in Stage 1, Material World in the Science
K–10 (incorporating Science and
Technology K–6) syllabus. F. Whalan
USER LEVEL: Stage 1 Professional
KLA:
AC; Science
SYLLABUS:
Science K–10 (SciTech
K–6)
SCIS 1675462 $103.92 (8 issues per
year via subscription)
and professional texts are provided, as
well as checklists for assessing students’
understanding and engagement.
Teachers wanting to develop grand
conversations about literature in
their classrooms will find support and
inspiration here. K. Rushton
USER LEVEL: Professional
KLA:
AC; English
SYLLABUS:
English K–10
SCIS 1671029 Paper $17.99
Materials
CAMPBELL, Jane
Scholastic, NSW, 2014 (Focus; issue 6)
ISBN none [530.4]
Pitched at lower
and middle primary
students, an annual
subscription to
the Focus series
comprises eight
softcover issues,
each containing
a unit of learning
aligned with the
Australian curriculum and cross-
curriculum priorities. This issue about
Materials includes a giant poster and
15 blackline proformas. By integrating
states of matter, raw and manufactured
materials and their different purposes,
the publication aims to allow students
USER LEVEL: Professional
KLA:
AC; English
SYLLABUS:
English K–10
SCIS 1674453 Paper $7
Member $3.50
Grand conversations: literature
groups in action
PETERSON, Ralph & EEDS, Maryann
Scholastic, USA, 2007 (Bright idea)
ISBN 9780439926454 [428.407]
A focus on making
meaning through
dialogue strongly
underpins the
approach which
characterises the
grand conversations
described in
this book. Many
teachers, using
literature circles or literature groups
in their classrooms, will find this to be
a very practical and supportive text.
For instance, the chapter devoted to
literary elements deals with challenging
aspects of text like symbols, metaphors,
mood and time, as well the more
familiar aspects like plot, character and
place. While the focus is on developing
engaging conversations, practical
aspects of teaching reading are not
overlooked. Lists of children’s books
Talk moves: a repertoire of
practices for productive
classroom dialogue
EDWARDS-GROVES, Christine
PETAA, NSW, 2014 (PETAA paper, 195)
ISBN none [428.34]
Developing a
communicative
classroom which
fosters dialogue is a
challenge for every
teacher, so this concise
and practical article
will be very useful
for busy primary
practitioners. Drawing
on a longer publication by the same
author, the practical suggestions and
examples it contains show in detail
how to develop such a classroom. This
includes the physical organisation of
the classroom to support students to
interact with each other and a focus on
developing students’ thinking through
talk. The author demonstrates how to
extend the usual Initiation/Response/
Feedback (IRF) pattern of talk found
in most classrooms by extending the
third turn and deepening the students’
thinking in this way. Examples are
offered from upper and lower primary
classes and they clearly show how to
put these ideas into practice. K. Rushton
2015 Volume 34, Issue 1 68
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